Ivy League still has hopes for two NCAA tournament bids

In early March, when basketball conversations turn to talk of bubble teams and conference tournaments, one league -- the Ivy -- is customarily left out of both discussions. There is no Ivy League tournament again this year, but as for teams under consideration for an at-large NCAA bid, the Ivy thinks this season should bring a different story.

The "Ancient Eight" has never had more than one team in an NCAA tournament. But this year, says Ivy executive director Robin Harris, Princeton and Harvard are each making a case for consideration for an at-large spot, at least at the present time.

One will get the league's automatic bid. Beyond that?

"We think the team that doesn't win the league deserves consideration," says Harris. "The trend in the Ivy is that the overall level of competitiveness is increasing. We don't think this is pie-in-the-sky. I think we have a realistic chance, and certainly the two should be in the conversation."

Princeton (22-5, 10-1) and Harvard (21-5, 10-2) meet Saturday in Cambridge, Mass., where first place in the league figures to be at stake. But before that showdown, each team has a game Friday night. Princeton is at Dartmouth, and Harvard hosts Pennsylvania.

Harvard has a Ratings Percentage Index in the mid-40s through games of Wednesday, with Princeton in the high 40s.

Saturday's game will complete the regular season for the Crimson, but Princeton has a game remaining Tuesday against traditional-rival Penn. If the teams finish tied for first, there will be a one-game playoff for the automatic NCAA bid, March 11 or 12 at a neutral venue.

Harvard lost the first meeting 65-61 a month ago at Princeton. The Crimson have not made the NCAA tournament since 1946 when they were chosen as an independent. They have never won the Ivy basketball title.

This season, the Crimson have non-conference wins against Colorado, which upset Texas last week, and Boston College, which is a candidate for an at-large bid out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

However, Harvard suffered a damaging one-point loss last week at Yale and has an overall schedule strength rated in the mid-170s.

Princeton's best non-league wins are against Bucknell and Tulsa. The Tigers also have what the NCAA committee would consider bad losses to Presbyterian and Brown, and their overall schedule strength is rated in the mid-180s.

Many midmajor programs have a chance to impress the committee by taking part in ESPN's late-season BracketBusters. But Ivy teams traditionally play league games on six consecutive Fridays and Saturdays from late January to early March, precluding their participation in the event, Harris says.

While Harris knows that Ivy champ Cornell's run to the Sweet 16 last year, which included beating Temple and Wisconsin, won't affect how the committee views this year's field, she does think it proves that Ivy teams can successfully compete with plenty of opponents.

"We think it would be fabulous," to get two teams in the field, Harris says. "It would be a testament to the level of basketball being played in the Ivy League."

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